Trip Report - Reflection B2B - Penthouse Suite and Reflection Suite Experience

[FlyingCruiser2]

Our Background....

 

We are in our mid 60's, still working, healthy, active, and fully mobile.  We are not wealthy by any means, and we work hard to save up for our cruise vacations.  We chose to reserve these kinds of suites to make each cruise a truly special experience as opposed to cruising more often in a different category of cabin. Some people might think "What's the big deal? You don't spend any time in your cabin anyway", but it really is a very different cruise experience in the upper suites - and we do spend a lot of time either in the cabin and mostly on the larger balcony.  Our priorities when choosing: 1) Cabin, 2) Ship (prefer under 2K, have done max 3K passengers), 3) Deal, 4) Ports of Call. We started cruising shortly after 9/11, and have cruised on RCI, HAL, Celebrity, and Virgin (once).  In the last few years, we've bounced between HAL and Celebrity - where we can get the best deal for the type of cabin we want. We are extremely low-maintenance and from what we gathered from staff comments - much easier to deal with than most upper suite guests. 

 

We normally do cruises from 9-14 days in length.  We could not find anything for the timeframe we traveled, so opted for this Back-to-Back that was 5 nights/3 nights. There's a real difference in the "vibe" on longer cruises that better suits us.  On this trip, the 3-night cruise was a different world than the 5 night one - seemed to be lots of obnoxious and rude behavior, both to staff and other passengers. Although there were lots of kids on the 3 day - their behavior was as a group was way better than the adults.

 

I'm posting this here as there just doesn't seem to be a lot of trip reports where people stayed in these suites.  In a post a couple of months ago it was opined that "people who stay in those rooms don't post on cruise critic", and "maybe they have their P.A's read it for them".

 

Our only previous cruise on Celebrity was on the Constellation last year, where we stayed in a Penthouse Suite - so that's all I can compare this trip to as far as Celebrity goes.

 

The Cabins....

 

Our first leg was in the Penthouse Suite. The Reflection only has one, unlike its sister ships in the same class.  The room itself was wonderful - lots of space and lots of storage places.  The room is laid out well, with lots of usable space (except for the piano, which made a nice large, albeit weirdly-shaped counter).  There is a separate bedroom area with a King Size bed, and there is a sofa-bed in the living area. After being relegated to the sofa bed one night for snoring, I was surprised at how comfortable it was - for me more so than the main bed. It was like sleeping on a marshmallow cloud and was probably my best night's sleep on the whole trip.  The balcony is where we spent most of our time when at the cabin. There were loungers, a table and chairs, as well as an outdoor jetted tub.  The tub seemed like kind of a waste - but I could see using it as a cool-down tub in really hot weather. There is a "sound system" hooked up to the TV, and there was a place to plug in your own device for input. 

 

The second leg was in the Reflection Suite, which is only on the Reflection.  By total square footage it is larger than the Penthouse, but with a smaller balcony. The forward view is amazing, and it has very tall ceilings for a cruise ship cabin - maybe 15 feet high. It had 2 smaller bedrooms and a large living area. The real unique thing was the cantilevered shower in the main bathroom.  It is glassed-enclosed and hangs out over the side of the ship, with a translucent glass floor. There is a switch to change the glass from "clear" to "privacy". We were worried about the location of the room - sharing a wall with the Sky Observation Lounge and being under the Basketball court.  However we heard no noise at all from outside the room. With the location being so far forward and up high, we did get a LOT of vibration during docking operations when the thrusters were used - we'll call it an early wake-up call on port days.

 

Both rooms had a shortage of 110v outlets.  Definitely recommend bringing European adapters in order to have enough plugs in the room.

 

To be honest - we very much preferred the Penthouse Suite to the Reflection Suite.  But we also very much preferred the Penthouse Suite on Constellation to the one on Reflection.  The Connie PH is larger, and the balcony (patio deck, really) spans one half of the back of the ship - almost 1100 square feet. On Connie there's also a separate Pantry with full size fridge and icemaker. Sitting on that balcony and listening to the propeller wake below is one of my "happy places".

 

The Suite Experience...

 

Needless to say, we got top-notch service and personal attention all over the ship by being in the top-level suites. Multiple times at the first visit to a restaurant or bar we'd be addressed by name instead of being asked our stateroom number.

 

The spoiling began at embarkation.  Pier 25 at Port Everglades has a separate luggage drop off for the Retreat.  A representative was there and when they saw we were in the Penthouse, we were personally escorted through the rest of the security and check-in process. We were then taken upstairs to the Retreat waiting area, as we arrived about 15 minutes before boarding started.  As soon as we sat down, the Hotel Manager and Retreat Concierge came up to introduce themselves and ask if we needed anything.  When boarding started someone came to escort us to our cabin. If we had come a little later after boarding started, the whole process from checking luggage to being in our cabin would have been about 10 minutes.

 

Once in our cabin, the Butler and Reflection Host (previously known as Cabin Steward), came by to introduce themselves and ask what they can do. There was also a Hotel officer of some sort who wanted to double-check the room.  My wife asked if they could please provide a fan (in her ideal world, she would sleep in a wind tunnel where they test airplanes).  The Officer apologized and said, "we don't do that anymore".  After he left our Butler said he bet he could find one, and sure enough an hour later it was there.

 

About 2 months before the trip, we were contacted by Shoreside services to ask about dinner reservations, arrange excursions, choices for the 2 complementary liquor bottles for mini-bar, pillow choice, and how to stock the mini-bar. Even though some of the dinner reservation times we requested were showing not available on the app, our requests were accommodated.  A couple of weeks before departure, we were contacted again to see if there was anything else we wanted to request, and to give us a placard to print that would allow us access to the Retreat Luggage Dropoff at Pier 25.

 

Other suite perks: Unlimited Lunch and Dinner at Specialty Restaurants, $600 per room OBC, Premium Wi-fi for 4 devices each, Gratuities, Premium Beverage Package, Laundry/Pressing/Dry Cleaning. Note that we booked this before they removed the $600 OBC and Gratuities from their perk list.

 

We took advantage of the Specialty Restaurants for dinner. At each one they seemed to already know us, and we weren't even asked for our cabin number. At first I thought maybe the key cards had RFID and it pops up on their computer, but then we heard them asking others for their cabin number or asking for their key card....so I don't know how.

 

Comparison to previous Celebrity cruise....

 

As I said, we preferred our overall experience on Constellation - mostly due to the cabin being so much different and the deck/balcony.  Also, it seems that the smaller ships just fit us better.  We are booked on Summit in 2025, in a PH the same as Constellation, and know we are going to miss some things that Reflection offered - Murano, World Class Bar, Lawn Club Grill to name the major ones - but worth it to us for the smaller ship.

 

Comparison to HAL (our most recent trip before this).....

 

For the last few years, we've bounced back and forth between HAL and Celebrity.  Although right now we prefer Celebrity (Millenium Class), but it's often harder to find affordable availability for the PH that we prefer. There are pros and cons to both lines.  HAL's equivalent to the PH (Pinnacle Suite) is similar in location on the ship, layout, and size as the PH on Reflection, but also doesn't compare to the PH on Millenium class ships. HAL has more mellow (read 'longer in the tooth') passengers so it is quieter and has a more subdued atmosphere. The level of service is equivalent, although the "Neptune Lounge Hosts" don't really compare to Celebrity's Butler.  Since we are so low-maintenance, that part doesn't really make an huge difference for us, but it's nice. HAL offers less Specialty Restaurants, and only includes 2 reservations complimentary - any in addition are additional charge. 

 

Final Notes....

 

Our next cruise is on HAL Eurodam, but we have 2 cruises booked on Summit in 2025.  I have to say I'm more looking forward to the upcoming Celebrity cruises, but I know the HAL one will be awesome also.

[Texed]

Thanks for posting.  😊

[rinshin]

Thanks for sharing your upper suite experience. 

[Georgia_Peaches]

Very nice report!  Thank you for sharing.  We have a Signature suite booked for July which is located in the same hallway as the Reflection Suite.  We get the unlimited dining and the 2 bottles of liquor and such.  Am wondering if these are considered upper suites.  

[FlyingCruiser2]

29 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Very nice report!  Thank you for sharing.  We have a Signature suite booked for July which is located in the same hallway as the Reflection Suite.  We get the unlimited dining and the 2 bottles of liquor and such.  Am wondering if these are considered upper suites.  

Yes they are. Lot’s of pampering.  

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

You absolutely cannot beat the PH on the M class ships.  The balcony is fabulous and I love the butler's pantry with its separate entrance and full-size refrigerator.  And the reason they recognized you everywhere you went is that they were given your picture prior to your boarding.

[Georgia_Peaches]

15 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

You absolutely cannot beat the PH on the M class ships.  The balcony is fabulous and I love the butler's pantry with its separate entrance and full-size refrigerator.  And the reason they recognized you everywhere you went is that they were given your picture prior to your boarding.

The PH on M class in on my bucket list!  It looks spectacular!  I want to reserve it in honor of DH's retirement but his retirement is ever elusive.  He says he has 10 more years to go but I'm not sure I can hold out that long so will have to investigate another reason to splurge!

[goldsmip115]

There is absolutely nothing that can compare to the PS on the M class ships.  I have been fortunate enough to have 7 sailings in them..one 7 night, one 8 night, 3 10 night and 2 12 night sailings.  The butlers pantry and the huge verandah are spectacular.  Cannot wait to return to those wonderful suites!

[Swordfish1949]

Thanks for the review - we have a PH suite booked for August-2025 and after reading your review, we really can't wait!  Thanks again

 

[Schmoe38]

1 hour ago, goldsmip115 said:

There is absolutely nothing that can compare to the PS on the M class ships.  I have been fortunate enough to have 7 sailings in them..one 7 night, one 8 night, 3 10 night and 2 12 night sailings.  The butlers pantry and the huge verandah are spectacular.  Cannot wait to return to those wonderful suites!

Hi Trish

 

Thank you for being our neighbours on one of those sailings. We, to this day still talk about the wonderful time we had while sailing with you along the Pacific Coast in those spectacular M Class Penthouses.

 

Hope to sail with you again some day.

 

Randy and Connie

[Schmoe38]

Thanks so much for your comments regarding the Penthouse Suite on Reflection vs the Reflection Suite.

 

We booked a cruise on Reflection in March 2025 and had a decision to make. The Penthouse and Reflection Suite were both available at the time of booking. We had been in the Penthouse before, but had never been in the Reflection Suite.

 

We went back and forth and decided to go with the Penthouse. We liked the PH location on the ship vs the forward bias of the Reflection Suite. We like the balcony on the PH better as well. We’re actually comfortable with our decision. The only downside to this decision was the process itself. Since there is only 1 PH on Reflection, you can’t “hum and hah” too long or someone else may make the decision for you, by booking it ahead of you.

 

If we had chosen the Reflection Suite, it would have just been my luck that when I was using that unique shower, the privacy setting would have been Out of Order, without my knowledge.

 

Randy

 

Edited May 9 by Schmoe38

[FlyingCruiser2]

1 hour ago, Schmoe38 said:

Thanks so much for your comments regarding the Penthouse Suite on Reflection vs the Reflection Suite.

 

We booked a cruise on Reflection in March 2025 and had a decision to make. The Penthouse and Reflection Suite were both available at the time of booking. We had been in the Penthouse before, but had never been in the Reflection Suite.

 

We went back and forth and decided to go with the Penthouse. We liked the PH location on the ship vs the forward bias of the Reflection Suite. We like the balcony on the PH better as well. We’re actually comfortable with our decision. The only downside to this decision was the process itself. Since there is only 1 PH on Reflection, you can’t “hum and hah” too long or someone else may make the decision for you, by booking it ahead of you.

 

If we had chosen the Reflection Suite, it would have just been my luck that when I was using that unique shower, the privacy setting would have been Out of Order, without my knowledge.

 

Randy

 

 

I will qualify my statement however - if we were to travel with more than just the 2 of us, I would choose the Reflection Suite for the second bedroom.  Also, if you had enough people in the Reflection Suite to have to utilize the living area sofa bed, I don't think it would be conducive to sleeping as the forward-facing windows don't have blocking curtains.  There's a shade that can be raised on the lower half, but it doesn't block light and is only so people on the Spa Sundeck below cannot see in at night.

[peanut head]

Thank you for posting your review(s).  We, too, prefer to travel in the PH (Constellation, Equinox, Solstice) or a RS (Constellation, Equinox), for the same reasons you cited.  When on board, we prefer the privacy and quiet of a larger room and balcony.  We enjoy meeting other passengers at the bars, restaurants and activities, but then know that we can retreat back to our sea-faring cave.

 

We were wondering about the Reflection Suite and your review is wonderful and informative.  Perhaps, we will stay with the PH.

[quicklabs]

What a splendid review!  Thank you for sharing it.  That cantilevered shower sounds absolutely amazing. 

 

We are in a RS on the Eclipse in a few months.  I do hope that they will be able to come up with a fan for us.  At home, I have three of them blowing on me.  Makes all the difference.  We are big fans of Murano, and will be eating there often.  

 

Glad you had such a marvelous time.